An Unexpected Twist or Two

Luna was about to finish the spell. Mary didn't know much about magic, but the way the air around her seemed to be howling towards a climax told her that she didn't have much time.

Just was Luna's chanting reached its fever pitch, a male voice called out from across the hall.

"Aloroa Mappe!"

Instantly, Luna was lifted off her feet and sent flying down the hallway. The tension in the air died away immediately, the spell canceled.

Mary heard the sound of approaching footsteps and looked up in time to see Mr. Erickson rushing by her, his right hand outstretched.

"Put the book down and stand up with your hands behind your head!" He shouted, all traces of calm stripped away.

Luna didn't listen, instead opting to jump to her feet and read another spell. She was halfway through the telekinetic incantation when the man beat her to the punch, his words coming in short, staccato bursts like gunfire.

"Aloroa Mappe!" he shouted, sending Luna flying against a bank of lockers.

The girl crumpled into a ball.

"Luna!" Mary cried out.

She couldn't bear to see her best friend in such a state.

"Stand down, girl," Mr. Erickson commanded.

Luna didn't move. She seemed **** from the impact.

Suddenly, from behind her, Mary heard a familiar giggle. It was a high pitch, girly laugh devoid of any intelligence or curiosity. It was Jillian Kent's voice.

"Fuck," Mr. Erickson muttered under his breath.

Jillian rounded the corner and, against all logic, started to skip down the hallway towards the three of them.

"Jillian, now is really not the time," Mr. Erickson growled.

Jillian stopped in her tracks and gazed at the three of them, her eyes drinking in each of them in turn. All of a sudden, the girl's clueless, idiot smile gained wicked intelligence. It grew with predatory delight.

"I knew it," the girl hissed, suddenly speaking in an accent that Mary thought sounded French.

Jillian moved swifter than Mary's eyes could register, her hand digging into her purse and coming out with a small pistol. She aimed the gun squarely at Mr. Erickson's head.

"I thought I heard you casting. I can feel the residual magic all over this place. Try another incantation and it'll be your last."

Mr. Erickson raised his hands and turned to face Jillian.

On the floor in front of him, Luna began to stir.

"I don't know what you're trying to pull, young lady, but I suggest you rethink it. You're pointing a gun at a police officer."

"FBI, actually. Agent Martin St. John."

"Goddammit," the man muttered quietly.

Mary looked back at her friend and felt a twinge of fear. Luna was awake again and reaching for the book. Her eyes burned with hatred and ominous black veins marbled her pale face.

Jillian continued without noticing.

"I have to thank you for delivering yourself to me. I thought I would have nothing more than a couple teenage girls to fight. This is much more interesting."

The agent shook his head.

"Look, I'm a Federal agent that you are pointing a gun at. If you don't stand down there will be serious legal consequences."

Jillian cackled as the agent spoke these words.

"That's a great joke. Now keep your hands up and your mouth shut."

Mary glanced back at Luna and saw that she now had a hold of the book and was scrambling to her feet.

"Luna, no!" Mary cried.

Agent St. John and Jillian turned to face Luna at the same time. Neither was prepared for what happened next.

Luna stood with the book held out in front of her like medieval shield. In the next second, she roared the words of the telekinetic spell, her voice amplifying well beyond what was natural. The entire hallway shook from the shout.

"Aloroa Mappe!"

A blast of concussive energy rolled down the hall towards the three of them. At the exact same moment, Jillian aimed her gun at Luna and got off a single shot before her body was lifted up and slammed back down by the spell.

A split-second afterwards, Mary felt her own body tumble over. Fresh pain ripped through her ankle as she rolled several feet backwards.

Despite the pain, Mary wrenched her body around and looked over at her friend.

Good God, Luna, please be okay. Please don't be dead.

Luna stood, her eyes wide and afraid. She held the book out in front of her, a bullet lodged within the pages. From the wound in the leather and paper, dazzling pink sparks were flying into the air.

The two best friends locked eyes with each other. In that moment, Mary saw the old Luna. She looked afraid and more than a little sad. Mary wanted so badly to hold her and tell her everything was going to be okay.

In the next moment, a bright pink flash filled the hallway. Mary covered her eyes, temporarily blinded by the release of energy.

It was over in an instant, leaving an empty space where Luna had been standing.